THE HOTTEST TRENDS IN SKINCARE FOR 2019. SHOULD YOU USE THEM OR LOSE THEM?

Each year brings with it fashion trends, decorating trends,
and beauty trends.

The latter covers everything from nails, haircare, makeup
and skincare. With the ubiquity of social media, beauty users now can pick up
popular trends from anywhere across the world and follow them. Skincare is the
biggest segment in the beauty industry with global sales that hover around $130
billion in 2019. There is so much for consumers to digest and decide on. We turned to Dr. Manish Shah, a Denver Board Certified
Plastic Surgeon and skin care expert. He takes a microscope to some of the
hottest trends in 2019 to give you insight into what’s worth your hard- earned
dollars.

CBD In Skincare

Much like it did in 2018, CBD is taking off in the new
year. In fact, CBD (short for cannabidiol) has no plans of easing up its reign
on the skin-care world in 2019. As a case in point, there are at least two
MAJOR skin care brands that now include CBD in their skincare, not to
mention the indie companies who have created CBD skincare. Dr. Shah’s take: “As
far as it being good for skin, it acts as both an anti-inflammatory agent and
an oil reduction agent. Theoretically, its addition to skin care products,
especially those tasked to fight acne and other inflammatory skin conditions,
is probably legitimate. It is also a good antioxidant that can help protect
against free radical damage to skin cells. CBD can be made from hemp which
helps skincare companies get around the federal ban on marijuana. Side effects
of unregulated use include: Nausea, fatigue and irritability. CBD can increase
the level in your blood of the blood thinner coumadin, and it can raise levels
of certain other medications in your blood by the exact same mechanism that
grapefruit juice does.”

Microneedle Patches

Some
beauty editors and bloggers swear by pimple patches. According to experts,
those patches are about to get even more advanced by way of a ton of tiny
microneedles (or “microstructures”).The logic is that you can out put
a smaller amount of acne-fighting ingredients into these tiny little cones and
apply it to the skin, it’s a better, more effective delivery system.

Here’s
how they are purported to work: The small band-aid-like
sticker has spikes coated with
hyaluronic acid that are thinner than a hair follicle. Through these teeny
painless pricks in the skin, the patch drives
the active ingredients deep in to the skin. Dr. Shah’s take:

“There
is plenty of good medical literature on the validity of these small patches
that are impregnated with various chemicals. The patch gets worn and the
needles (either metallic or made out of absorbable polymer) penetrate the skin
delivering the chemical treatment. Their design takes advantage of the concept
of transcutaneous delivery of drugs. Patches can be custom made to fit various
areas of the face and deliver anti-aging or other chemicals while a patient
sleeps. The efficiency of delivery is better through the tiny skin punctures
than if you only put the chemical directly on the intact skin. In theory,
aesthetic practitioners can make custom topical treatments and place them on
the patches to deliver customized at home skin treatments for their patients.”

Is a Cryotherapy Facial Is the Best Way to
Brighter, Tighter Skin?

Cryotherapy
has gained popularity in recent years with spa treatments exposing clients to
subzero temperatures to help relieve pain and improve their health. This
wellness treatment has recently undergone another adaptation with the
cryotherapy facial treatment. The Cryo Facial is a cryogenic treatment that is
performed by what is considered a “cryo probe,” which beams vaporized
liquid nitrogen across the forehead, cheeks, nose and chin. Different from the
cryotherapy chambers that can be used for pain relief, the facial targets helping
the face look younger. Dr.
Shah’s take: “This may be more suspect. There isn’t a
great deal of study-based evidence that cryotherapy facials actually do what
they claim. Typically, cryotherapy uses extremely cold liquid nitrogen to
freeze exposed skin cells to kill them, like a wart. The facials use the same
liquid nitrogen as a spray, but the aesthetician doesn’t stay in one area too
long to avoid frostbite to the skin. Some level of cold injury occurs, probably
to a very superficial level of the skin, so there may be some exfoliation. But
there are safer ways to get exfoliation without risking frostbite or
hyperpigmentation.”

ANTI-POLLUTION SKIN CARE

Your
skin is exposed to environmental aggressors on a regular basis. Although
unseen, these pollutants can wreak havoc on your skin by breaking down collagen
and elastin, the fibers that give skin its bounce. To help reduce these
unwanted side effects, anti-pollution skin care products are continuing to gain
favorability among consumers. Just as SPF is now de rigor in skin care,
this seems to be the case with anti-pollution ingredient. Dr. Shah’s take: “I think that this is a
new name for old tech. In brief, our skin is exposed to environmental
contaminants that create inflammatory conditions. These conditions lead to
build up of free radicals in the skin. The ingredients in antipollution skin
care are basically strong antioxidants that protect against the free radicals.
But the skin is assaulted by more than chemicals. It experiences dehydration,
UV exposure, temperature changes, etc. True antipollution skincare should guard
against all this. Typical protective and reparative ingredients include vitamin
E, vitamin C, retinoids, hyaluronic acid, zinc oxide, vitamin B3, and
bisabolol.”

Dr.
Shah’s final verdict: Just as one can become a slave to fashion, the same can
happen with skin care trends. My best advice is to consult with your skincare
physician. Discuss what you are exposed to during the day. Is it sun,
pollution, humid air, wind, etc.? Talk to your doctor about what type of skin
you have. Skin type changes as you age, and as hormonal factors come into play.
Someone who had oily skin in their 20’s and 30’s can have combination skin in
their 40’s and 50’s. Speak with your aesthetic provider about what your
specific goals are for your skin. Is it reduced acne? Fewer wrinkles? Reduced
brown spots? Broken capillaries? Just because something is a trend, does not
mean it’s right for your skin care type or your goals. If you have a regimen
that works for you, stick with it. Don’t be tempted by designer brands if
drugstore brands are effective for you. There is nothing
wrong with giving your skin care routine a modern “kick,” but good skincare
does not mean one must try everything available on the market or in a med/spa
or doctor’s office.

Manish Shah, M.D., F.A.C.S. was born in Canada
and raised in the Washington, D.C. area. He graduated with honors from the
University of Pennsylvania, receiving a degree in biomedical engineering. He
then completed his medical training at the University of Virginia, earning his
Medical Doctorate. During this time, he also completed a one-year fellowship in
microsurgery research at the New York University School of Medicine / Institute
of Reconstructive Plastic Surgery. As a prelude to his plastic surgery
training, Dr. Shah completed a rigorous five-year training program in General
and Trauma Surgery at Emory University and the Medical College of Georgia. His
formal training in Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery was completed at the
Univ. of Tennessee College of Medicine – Chattanooga Unit. After completing his
plastic surgery training, he moved to New York City when he was selected for
the prestigious Aesthetic Surgery Fellowship at Manhattan Eye, Ear, and Throat
Hospital. He underwent extensive, advanced training in aesthetic surgery of the
face, breasts, and body at the hands of some of the most renowned cosmetic
surgeons in the world. This fellowship is widely considered to be the best of
its kind in the world. Dr. Shah is one of only a select few plastic surgeons in
the country who have undergone formal post-graduate training in aesthetic
surgery.

Dr. Shah’s aim is to obtain a natural appearing
transformation that complements the real you!

Dr. Shah is a Clinical Assistant Professor of
Surgery at the University of Colorado Health Sciences Center. He
maintains a private practice in Aesthetic Plastic Surgery in the Cherry
Creek neighborhood of Denver.

Dr. Shah is a member of the American Society of
Plastic Surgeons, the American Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery, the
International Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery, the Rhinoplasty Society,
and the European Academy of Facial Plastic Surgery.